NATO to have “strong message” on Ukraine’s membership, Russia warns

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, stated on Monday that the alliance will have a strong and unified message on Ukraine’s future membership by the end of the week. Meanwhile, the Kremlin warned that Ukraine joining NATO would have “very negative” consequences for European security.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Lithuanian president, Gitanas Nauseda, in Vilnius, Stoltenberg said, “No final decision has been made but at the summit I am absolutely certain that we will have unity and a strong message on Ukraine.”

The next NATO summit, which will take place on July 10-11 in Vilnius, Lithuania, is expected to focus on the alliance’s response to Russian military intervention in Ukraine, as well as Kyiv’s request to join the bloc.

Stoltenberg also said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will join the summit tomorrow.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned of severe repercussions should Ukraine join the alliance, saying there will be a “clear and firm reaction.”

“You know the absolutely clear and consistent position of the Russian Federation that Ukraine’s membership in NATO will have very, very negative consequences for the security architecture, the already half-destroyed security architecture in Europe.”

While eastern European NATO members are advocating for Ukraine’s accession, countries like the United States and Germany are hesitant about the prospect, as they fear that it could lead to a direct conflict with Russia and potentially spark a new global war.